§ 56. Sir Stanley Reedasked the Minister of Food whether every practical means will be adopted to ship the rice stocks in Siam to meet the urgent needs of India; and if he will give an assurance that no rice from Siam shall be despatched East ward untilthe demands of India are satisfied.
§ Dr. SummerskillRice is subject to allocation by the Combined Food Board, and, accordingly, all supplies which can be made available for export from Siam are placed at the disposal of the Board for allocation, according to need, amongst the various claimants, of which one is India. It is not possible, therefore, to give the assurance desired by the hon. Member, since it will be necessary for the Board, having regard to the overall supply position, to allocate some part of the rice available for export from Siam, to countries other than India, e.g., Hong Kong, Malaya, British Borneo and China, all of which are claimants upon world supplies. The rice requirements of India have, however, been submitted to the Combined Food Board and have the full support of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherIs the Minister aware that owing to the hold-up in the decision the total amount of rice which will become available will be much less because buyers are being held up at the export ports and are not able to get up country to buy rice?
§ Dr. SummerskillWe are aware that there is a big deficit, and I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend is trying to expedite matters.
§ Sir S. ReedWill the Minister take urgent steps for the procurement of this rice, which is held up in Siam because of the lack of confidence in the currency, and because of prejudice against disgorging this rice pending reparations?
§ Dr. SummerskillWe are aware of that, and we are doing everything possible to encourage merchants to disgorge their rice.